A Washington state high school wrestler has escalated her Title IX lawsuit to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting emergency safety protections ahead of the upcoming wrestling season. The athlete, identified in court documents as K.M.K. and previously by OutKick as Kallie Keeler, alleges she was sexually assaulted by a transgender competitor during a match last winter. The appeal follows a federal judge's denial of a preliminary injunction aimed at preventing her from facing biological males in competition.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), representing K.M.K. and her mother, Stephanie Brown, filed an emergency motion on Thursday. The motion urges the Ninth Circuit to challenge policies enforced by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Puyallup School District. U.S. District Judge David Castillo had previously denied the family's request for a preliminary injunction on August 23, ruling that they had not demonstrated a sufficiently likely risk of harm under the legal standard for emergency relief. Brown and K.M.K. appealed this decision on August 25 and again sought protection while the appeal proceeded, but Castillo denied this request on August 31, prompting the case's move to the Ninth Circuit.
The incident in question occurred on December 6, 2025, during a South Puget Sound League tournament match. According to the complaint, K.M.K. was unaware that her opponent was a biological male who identifies as transgender. During the match, the complaint alleges, the male competitor penetrated K.M.K.’s genital area with his fingers through her clothing, an encounter from which K.M.K. reportedly extricated herself by allowing herself to be pinned.
Brown and K.M.K. contend they were not informed about the opponent's sex assigned at birth prior to the match. They argue that current policies in Washington state allow for transgender participation in girls' sports without adequate disclosure of potential safety risks to female athletes and their parents. The family also raised concerns about the school's response to the alleged incident. Brown reported the incident to Rogers High School wrestling coach Lucia Scott on December 8, two days after it occurred, providing video evidence and requesting action. Scott reportedly forwarded the report to athletic director Peter Collins and principal Jason Smith. Brown stated that the school administration assured her the situation was being investigated and handled, but the family heard nothing further until they began to press for updates.
The complaint alleges that school administrators waited 55 days to report the matter to authorities. Principal Smith notified a school resource officer on January 30, 2026, and the district formally reported the incident to state child-welfare authorities on February 12. Brown also recounted that the coach initially stated officials were unaware a biological male was in the bracket and would not have allowed the match had they known. Smith reportedly responded to the incident by saying, "That’s wrestling."
A subsequent district investigation reportedly acknowledged that the opponent likely made forceful contact with K.M.K.'s private parts, causing discomfort. However, Judge Castillo's denial of the preliminary injunction did not characterize the event as an assault.
ADF's appeal to the Ninth Circuit asserts that forcing K.M.K. to compete against biological males, or requiring her to forfeit her season if she refuses, infringes upon Brown’s constitutional parental rights. The attorneys also argue that such a policy violates K.M.K.'s right to equal athletic opportunity under Title IX. The filing references the Supreme Court's ruling in West Virginia v. B.P.J., which acknowledged potential safety risks and competitive disadvantages for female athletes in contact sports due to biological differences.
Brown and ADF seek to prevent officials from compelling K.M.K. to wrestle biological males. At a minimum, Brown desires advance notification and the option to withdraw her daughter from any such matches. The WIAA stated it could not comment on the case due to pending litigation. Representatives from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superintendent Chris Reykdal, and the Puyallup School District did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This appeal comes amid ongoing legal disputes over Title IX and transgender participation in school sports. Earlier in the week, a federal judge dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit against California officials concerning policies that permit transgender athletes to compete according to their gender identity. The judge ruled that the federal government had not adequately notified California that excluding transgender athletes from girls' sports was a condition for receiving federal education funding. The Justice Department is considering an appeal.
While the California case and the Washington appeal address different legal questions, both involve regulations governing biological males in girls' sports. ADF emphasizes that the Washington case presents a more immediate safety concern due to the alleged invasive incident experienced by a teenage athlete who could face similar matchups again. Without emergency intervention before the wrestling season begins, K.M.K. will reportedly face a choice between risking another match against a biological male or forfeiting another season of a sport she has practiced since childhood.